Šāh-nāmah - The Šahnama of Firdausi, Volume 8

The Summer^77f mocked the ruddy apple-tree,
And treated fruit and leaf with raillery:—
“As for the posy that in Spring of late
Thou barest on thy breast intoxicate,
With just a blush remembered in its bloom,
And branches yielding exquisite perfume,
How didst thou find a purchaser to buy,
And do thy marketing so readily?
Those emeralds and rubies who bestowed
On thee that bendest underneath the load?
Sooth! thou hast bartered blossom for the grace
Of colour wherewithal to deck thy face,
^77g But brought me to despair who cannot see
Thy blossoms for thy flaunting bravery.”
Sweet Spring, my charmer! whither hast thou fled,
And left the glories of the garden dead?
Howbeit Autumn hath a scent of thine,
And I will drink to thee in new-made wine;
Though thou art sallow I will praise thee yet,
And deck thee like Hurmuzd's own coronet,
For now my mart is brisk. Art thou to see,
When I am dead and gone, no trace of me?⁷⁸

A marchlord of Harát, well shot in age,
There was, in all approven and beseen,
A ready speaker, Mákh by name, world-sage,
Still flourishing and of exalted mien;
And it was him I questioned fain to find
What record of Hurmuzd he had in mind
When that Sháh filled the throne of equity:
That eld of Khurásán thus answered me:—
Whenas that Sháh sat on the famous state
He first gave praises to almighty God,
The Arbiter of fortune, and then said:—

How Hurmuzd slew Ízid Gashasp, Zarduhsht, Símáh Barzín and Bahrám Ázarmihán, his Father's Ministers⁸¹

The Sháh ruled well until he felt secure
And had attained his ends but then he raged,
Displayed his evil nature, left the path
Of right and, as he had determined, slew
Those most in honour with his father—men,
Who, innocent and happy, feared no ill.
Among the scribes of Núshírwán were three,
Two old, one young, their names Ízid Gashasp,
Burzmihr—a learnéd scribe of Grace and presence—
And Máh Ázar, wise, shrewd, and prosperous.
The three had been vizírs and ministers
Before the throne of Núshírwán. Hurmuzd
Was longing to bring ruin on all three

Now when

Ízid Gashasp had passed a day untended,
Without food, clothes or solacer, a friend
Conveyed for him this message from the prison
To the high priest: “O thou that to the captive
Art skin and marrow! here am I within
The prison of the Sháh without attendance,
And none can come to me. I crave for food;
A famished paunch increaseth my distress.
Send to me what is fit and, when I die,
Some linen⁸² and a stitcher for my shroud.”
The high priest's heart was grieved at his affliction,
His message, place, and lodging. He replied:—
“Complain not of the matter of thy bondage
If thou art not in jeopardy of life.”
Albeit the message left him broken-hearted,
And troubled for himself. He thought: “If news
Shall reach this Graceless and ungenerous Sháh
That his high priest hath sent things to the prison,
My life and body are not worth a mite;
This world-lord will destroy me and will turn
A livid face toward me in his wrath.”
Yet through affection for Ízid Gashasp,
The scribe, his heart was wrung, his face like gall.
He bade his heedful cook take to the prison
Food for the prisoner and afterwards
Gat on an Arab steed and went to him.
The keeper of the prison paled with fright,
On seeing the high priest, but dared not say:—
“Go not within the prison for this king
Is self-willed and a novice.”

Bathed in tears

That agéd man alighted from his steed,
And visited Ízid Gashasp. They clasped
Each other in a close embrace, all anguish,
The lashes of their eyes like clouds in Spring,
And held talk of the Sháh's malignity
Until words failed them. Then the board was spread
Before those holy men who next began
To mutter prayers with sacred twigs in hand,
And afterwards Ízid Gashasp in whispers
Conveyed his wishes, while the high priest hearkened,
As to his hoarded treasure and dínárs,
His mansions, palaces, and property,
And said: “O noble man! on going hence

The high priest sat; they spread

The board; he paled; he felt that 'twas his last,
And so it proved. The cooks brought up the meats,
And Sháh Hurmuzd partook of all in turn,
But when he had the poisoned dish brought in
The high priest glanced thereat and looked again.
There was an ill surmise in his pure heart:—
“His remedy is poison in that dish!”
Hurmuzd, on seeing this, said not a word,
But stretched his hand out to that dish of bane,
And, in accordance to the use of kings
When paying servants honour and regard,
Put his own noble fingers to the board,
And, having taken marrow from the dish,
Said to the high priest: “O thou honest man!
I made this luscious morsel for thyself,
So open wide thy mouth and take this food,
And such should be thy nourishment henceforth.”
The archmage answered: “By thy life and head,
And may thy head and crown endure for ever,
Bid me not eat it; I have had enough,
⁸⁴ So do not press me further.”

Said Hurmuzd:—

“By sun and moon, and by the purity
Of soul of him who is the Sháh and world-lord,
Thou shalt accept this morsel from my hand,
And frustrate not my wish herein.”

He answered:—

“The Sháh hath bidden and I have no choice.”
He ate, then left the board, in sore distress,

The Sháh thus sought

An artifice to put Símáh Barzín,
One of the chiefs, beloved by Núshírwán—
That Lustre of the age—beyond the pale
Of sympathy.

Now when the Robe whose hue

Is ivory-bright grew visible, and Sol
Rose in the Sign of Gemini, the world-lord
Sat on the ivory throne, and o'er his head
They hung the costly crown. The Íránian chiefs
Met and drew up in rank before the court-gate.
The audience-chamberlain withdrew the curtain,
And all the throng approached the king. First came
Bahrám Ázarmihán, Símáh Barzín,
And valiant chiefs. Each took his proper seat,
The crowd still standing in the monarch's presence,
Who questioned thus Bahrám Ázarmihán:—
“Now doth Símáh Barzín, in presence here,
Deserve our wealth or is he troublesome,
Because the ill-disposed deserve not treasure?”
Bahrám Ázarmihán well understood
The question of the monarch of the world,
Its base and motive: “We must weep therefor,
And from the ruler of the people I
Shall have at last a charnel but no shroud!”
And thus he made response: “O noble Sháh!
Look for no goodness from Símáh Barzín,
For he hath wrecked Írán. Would that his body
Had neither brain nor skin! He speaketh naught
But villainy and thus produceth strife.”
Símáh Barzín, on hearing this, replied:—
“My good old friend! defame not thus my person,
And be not thus confederate with the Dív.
Since thou hast been my friend what words and deeds
Of Áhriman hast thou perceived in me?”
Bahrám Ázarmihán thus answered him:—
“Thou hast been scattering seed throughout the world,
And thou wilt be the first to reap the crop.
Black smoke shall be thy portion of the fire,
For Núshírwán once summoned thee and me,
And made us kneel before the royal throne
With the high priest, Burzmihr, and with that chief
Of comely face, Ízid Gashasp, and asked:—
‘Who doth deserve the imperial throne and who
Possesseth Grace? On younger son or elder
Shall I bestow it? Which is worthier
Of kingship?’

Then the rest of us arose,

And framed our tongues to utter this reply:—
‘This man of Turkman kindred is unworthy;
None would give aught for such a Sháh, for he
Is Khán-descended, is of evil nature,
And like his mother both in looks and bearing.’
Thou saidst: ‘Hurmuzd is fit to be the Sháh,’
And now art guilty of the consequence.
For this cause have I testified against thee,
And opened thus my lips in thy dispraise.”
Hurmuzd at that archmage's truthful words
Turned pale with shame. At night he sent them both
To prison and for two nights made no sign
Withal, but on the third, what time the moon
Arose above the mountains, he dispatched
Símáh Barzín by slaying him within
The prison of the thieves yet gat thereby
But toil and malison. On hearing how
That man of honest heart had passed away
Bahrám Ázarmihán sent to the Sháh
A message saying: “Thou whose crown is over
The orbit of the moon! thou knowest how much
I have endured to keep thy secrets close,
And ne'er was aught but well disposed to thee
Before thy father, that illustrious Sháh.
If thou wilt summon me and make me sit
Beside the royal throne I will reveal
A matter to thee in thine interest.
Free me at once from bondage in the prison;
'Twill help Írán and keep the wise unscathed.”
Hurmuzd, when this came, chose a confidant
To bring Bahrám Ázarmihán to him,
And to that court renowned. The monarch summoned
Bahrám Ázarmihán when it was night,
Caused him to kneel before the royal throne,
And then said: “Tell me what this matter is
That will secure my life in happiness.”
He answered: “In the royal treasury
I have observed a plain black cabinet.
Deposited within it is a casket,
And therein is a document in Persian.
'Tis written on white silk: the Íránians' hopes
Are centred there. 'Twas written by thy sire,
That Sháh and world-lord, and thou shouldest see it.”
Then to his treasurer, good at need, Hurmuzd
Sent one to say: “Seek in the ancient hoards
A plain sealed cabinet and on the seal
The name of Núshírwán, and may his soul
Be ever young! Dispatch and bring it me
Ere night be past.”

The treasurer was prompt,

And brought it with the seal intact. The world-lord
Oped it, invoking oftentimes the while
The name of Núshírwán. He saw within
A casket, which was also sealed, wherefrom
He eagerly took forth the piece of silk,
And saw the characters of Núshírwán
Inscribed thereon, and thus the writing ran:—

“Hurmuzd for two years more than ten
Will prove a matchless monarch, then
The world will be convulsed, his name
Pass to abeyance with his fame.
Foes will spring up in every place
Led by a man of evil race,
An Áhriman, the monarch's host
Will be dispersed, his throne be lost.
⁸⁹ Him will that villain blind, and they
Will, after, take his life away.^89a ”

On seeing that script, and in his father's hand,
Hurmuzd was frayed and rent the silk asunder.
With bloodshot eyes and livid face he cried:—
“Injurious man! what was thine aim herein?
Wouldst have my head?”

Bahrám Ázarmihán

Said: “Turkman-born! how long wilt thou delight
In bloodshed? From the Khán, not Kai Kubád,
Art thou upon whose head the crown was set
By Núshírwán.”

Hurmuzd knew: “If he can

He will o'erthrow me,” heard out his abuse,
And sent him back to prison where next night,
What time the moon rose o'er the mountain-tops,
The deathsman slew him. At the court no sage
Or counsellor or archimage was left.
From ill self-governance all evils spring;
See that thou disregard that evil thing.

From that time forth he led a goodlier life,
Moved by remorse at heart. Now every year,
When nights were short, he sojourned at Istakhr
Two months because that city was delightsome,
The air serene: he knew not how to quit it.
He and his court were wont to spend three months
At Ispahán with its delicious air—
The seat of mighty men. In Winter-time
He dwelt at Taisafún among the troops,
The archimages and the counsellors;
While in the Spring he was upon the plain
Of the Arwand, and thus a while went by.

He had a son beloved,

Just like the moon, whom he had named Parwíz,
And sometimes called “Khusrau the well-content.”
^91a He never left his father's side for long;
The father never bloomed without the son.
It chanced that the young steed of prince Parwíz
Escaped from stall and followed by its groom
Went to the growing crops whose owner came
Lamenting to the groom and asked: “What man
Must sorrow for this horse's ears and tail?”
The groom said: “'Tis the horse of prince Parwíz;
What careth he for subjects?”

Then the owner

Went to the king and laid the case before him,
Who said: “Haste, dock the horse's tail and ears,
Then have the damage to the crop assessed,
And prince Khusrau shall recompense the man
A hundredfold in money from his treasures
Upon the field and in its owner's presence.”
Thereat the prince moved chiefs to plead for him
Before the Sháh that he would not have docked
The black steed's tail and ears, but in his wrath
Against the steed the king paid no regard
To all those men of world-experience;
The groom through terror of the king made haste
To dock the young steed of its ears and tail
Upon that tilth betrampled; and Khusrau
Paid the complainant what the Sháh had bidden.

When he had reigned for ten years righteously
The voice of foemen rose from every realm,
King Sáwa marched upon him from Harát
With drums and treasure, elephants and troops.
If thou wouldst take the number of that host
Go count four hundred o'er a thousand times.
There were twelve hundred elephants of war;
Thou wouldst have said: “Earth hath no room for them.”
The desert from Harát to the Marvrúd
^92a Was thick as warp and woof with soldiery,
And as he led them on to Marv the earth
Was hidden by the dust-clouds of the host.

On reading this

The king turned pale at all that countless host.
Then from another quarter Cæsar came,
And over-ran the land with his array—
A force of Rúmans five score thousand strong,
Courageous and redoubted cavaliers.
The cities ta'en by Núshírwán, whose name
Still frighted him, he took back with the sword:
All were again obedient unto Cæsar.
⁹³ A host came from the side of the Khazars,
And all the fields and fells were black with them.
A warrior of experience and possessed
Of troops and treasure of his own was leader,
And from Armenia their companies
Extended to the gate of Ardabíl.
Then from the waste of spear-armed cavaliers
An army came past count. 'Abbás and 'Amr,
Two horsemen youthful and illustrious,
Led them. They gave to havoc land and crop
Because Hurmuzd demanded tribute of them.
That host reached the Farát, and in that land
No place for grass was left. When fortune loured
News reached Hurmuzd, and that successful Sháh
Grew all amort at his informants' words,
And he repented slaying those archmages,
And alienating wise men from his court.
He saw no counsellor, and he had need
Of wise advisers, so he sent and summoned
The Íránians to full session in the palace,
And made discovery of all the matter,
Addressing thus those nobles of the land:—
“A greater host than any can recall
Is marching on Írán.”

Then all the marchlords

Approached him with suggestions, saying thus:—
“Advised and prudent Sháh! hear us herein.
Thou art a wise Sháh; we are subjects merely,
And count ourselves as less than one archmage.
Thy scribes and thine archmages hast thou slain,
Departing from both faith and precedent.
Think what to do and who shall guard our land.”
Then said an archimage who was wazír:—
“O sage and knowledge-seeking Sháh! if now

Hurmuzd,

For he was seeking for a policy,
Said to that archimage: “How shall we now
Bear us toward king Sáwa?”

He replied:—

“Put thine own soldiers into war-array,
For troops exalt a monarch. Summon too
The muster-master that he may account
The number fit for service.”

With the roll

The muster-master came before the Sháh,
Whose army numbered five score thousand men,
The more part mounted, many were on foot.
The archmage said: “With such a host as this
We well may be defeated by king Sáwa
Unless thou actest boldly and uprightly,
Dismissing all ideas of fraud and falsehood;
Then thou wilt free thy subjects' heads from bonds
As well becometh kingship. Thou hast heard
The mighty tale of ill done to Gushtásp,
And to Luhrásp all for religion's sake
By great Arjásp, that brave old Wolf, and all
The cavaliers of Chín, the woe of Balkh,
And how life was embittered in that land
Until Asfandiyár was set at large,
And pressed the war amain.⁹⁵ Unless the king
Of earth will be advised he will behold
Much trouble from the Turks of Chín, but though
I pass the king in years I pass him not
In thought.”

The king said: “Cæsar shall not fight

With us. I will restore the cities taken
By Núshírwán, and then he will withdraw.”
He chose a scribe—a warrior—as envoy,
A wise, a prudent, and observant man,
And sent him unto Cæsar with this message:—
“I want no Rúman cities; be that land
Thine; but withal set foot not on our coasts
If thou wouldst be both great and prosperous.”
The envoy came to Cæsar and delivered
The message of Hurmuzd. The lord of Rúm
Withdrew and did no scath upon Írán.
The king, when Cæsar had withdrawn, prepared
To war with the Khazars. He formed a host,

A servant of the Sháh's, one hight Nastúh,
A wise, successful, and observant man,
Spake thus: “O Sháh! be happy. May the hand
Of ill be ever far from thee! My sire,
The wise Mihrán Sitád, hath still his wits,
Though old, and sitteth with the Zandavasta
In his retirement, having naught to hope for
Through age and weakness. Now but recently
I went and spent a day and night with him,
Told him about king Sáwa, his vast host,
And elephants of war. My father said:—
‘The ancient prophecy is then fulfilled!’
I questioned him: ‘To what referrest thou?’
He answered: ‘If the Sháh shall ask of me
I will reveal it.’”

Then the king of kings

Commanded that a noble should set forth
In haste and fetch the old man from his palace
Upon a litter. When that ancient came,
His heart all knowledge and his head all lore,
Before the Sháh, Hurmuzd inquired of him:—
“What know'st thou of the past?”

“O fluent Sháh,

And heedful,” said the elder, “when the Khán
Dispatched thy mother to Írán from Chín
I was the chief of eight score warriors
That went to ask of him her hand in marriage.
Thy father, that most upright king of kings,
Demanded no slave's daughter of the Khán,
But said: ‘Require a daughter of the queen;
No slave must be the consort of the Sháh.’

E'en with the words

He yielded up the ghost, and all the folk
Bewailed him bitterly. The king of kings
Was all astound and poured down tears of blood.
“Mihrán Sitád,” he told the Íránians,
“Retained this story in his memory,
And after having told it to us died,
Committing his accepted soul to God,
And God be thanked that this old man hath uttered
Words of such import. Had I fetched him hither
But one hour later he had died and I
Had seen much grief. Our realm must now be searched
For this man whether he be lord or liege.
Seek indefatigably for this one
Until ye find him.”

An illustrious subject,

The master of the horse, named Zád Farrukh,
Who sought in all the pleasure of the Sháh,
Went to him and thus spake: “The indications
Detailed by that famed man before the lords
Can only, otherwise we clutch but wind,
Apply, methinketh, to Bahrám Chúbína,
Son of Gashasp, a noble, well skilled horseman
To whom thou gavest Ardabíl and Barda'
Where he became marchlord with drums and troops.”
The Sháh dispatched a speedy cameleer
To bid Bahrám Chúbína dally not
Upon the way but come from Ardabíl
To court alone without the drums and host.
¹⁰⁰ The messenger the joyful news conveyed,
And told him what Mihrán Sitád had said.

Not calling any of his warriors
That world-aspirant hurried off from Barda',
And when he came the Sháh accorded audience.
On seeing the visage of the king of kings
The veteran much praised that noble one,
Who at first sight grew favourably disposed,
Perceived the marks named by Mihrán Sitád
In him, smiled and grew blithe of countenance,
Received him well and lodged him splendidly.
When sombre night flung off its musky veil,
And Sol displayed its face, the marchlord came
To court, and all the chiefs made way for him.
The world-lord summoned him and made him sit
Among the magnates, told him how Írán
Was placed and what Mihrán Sitád had said,
Then asked about king Sáwa, saying: “Shall I
Make peace or send forth troops?”

The warrior

Replied: “We may not make a peace with him,
For, since he fain would fight, to sue for peace
Will mean defeat for us; the foe moreover
Will be emboldened if he see thee weak.
To proffer feast in war-time is to make
Contention like submission.”

Said Hurmuzd:—

“What is the course then? Shall I seek delay,
Or march to battle?”

He made answer thus:—

“It augureth well if¹⁰¹ foes behave unjustly.
What said the noble counsellor? ‘No match
For justice is injustice.’ Therefore seek
To fight with this injurious enemy,
For fire and water will not flow together;
^101a But if thou actest otherwise herein
The ancient sky will choose another Sháh.
If we put forth the might of our own arms,
And what we have of prowess, holy God
Will neither blame us nor shall we be shamed
Before the heroes when the truth is sought.
Shall we be weak enough to shun the combat
While yet ten thousand of Íránians
Remain unslain? What will malignants say
To thee if thou flee foes without a fight?

On hearing this

The Sháh smiled and the court grew bright, and then
The veterans left the presence with full hearts,
And talking with Bahrám Chúbína said:—
“Henceforth if he shall speak with thee be modest,
Because king Sáwa hath such mighty powers
That e'en to ants and gnats they bar the way!
Who after what thou said'st before the Sháh
Will venture to be captain of the host?”
He answered them: “Illustrious warriors!
I will be captain by our great Sháh's leave.”
Informants on the watch went to the world's king,
And told him of this speech and ten times more.
The king of kings rejoiced thereat and ceased
To fear those troops. He gave Bahrám Chúbína
The chief command, exalting to the clouds
His valiant head. All warriors that sought
For glory hailed him captain of the host.
He came before the king with girded loins,
Equipped for war, and said: “By thy permission
I will call o'er the roll and ascertain
Who are the fighting-men and who are slack
In quest of fame.”

The Sháh said: “Thou art leader

Responsible for good and ill alike.”
The chief went to the royal muster-ground,
And bade the troops parade. He made his choice
Of those that were the crown among the chiefs,
And entered on the roll twelve thousand names
Of mail-clad warriors on barded steeds.
All those enrolled were forty years of age;
The older and the younger were rejected.
Bahrám Chúbína held the chief command
As one renowned in war. He made one hight
Yalán-sína—a man of vengeful breast—
¹⁰² Chief of the warrior-chiefs to go before

On hearing,

The king grew fresh as roses in the Spring,
Then said: “Depart, put on thy mail, and go
Forth from the palace to the riding-ground.”
The general left the king, called for his girdle,
Mail-coat, and Rúman helm, had his steed barded,
And set the coiled up lasso in its straps.
The world-lord with his arrows, clubs, and balls
Went out upon the ground with his wazírs.
The general approached with mace and mail
And Rúman casque. The world-lord, seeing, blessed him.
He kissed the ground and showed a liege's prowess
With mace, at polo, and in archery.
The king then had the banner brought that bare
A violet dragon for device, the banner
That had been borne in fight in front of Rustam,
¹⁰⁵ Grasped it immediately and, handling it
With smiles, bestowed it on Bahrám Chúbína,
Invoking many a blessing on him, saying:—
“My predecessors used to hail as chief

When morning dawned upon the mountain-tops,
And when the glittering Shield of Gold appeared,
The chief came to the palace of the Sháh,
And prostrate in the presence of the troops
Spake thus: “I was a man that had no claims,
But by thy Grace became the age's crown.
I have to beg one favour of the king—
That he will send with me a trusty man
To make a note of those that fight and lay
A hostile head beneath the dust and thus
Achieve their end.”

Hurmuzd replied: “Mihrán,

The old, is great,¹⁰⁶ observant, eloquent,”
Bade him accompany the chief and quit
The palace for the combat. From the province
Of Taisafún the army marched, their leader
Bahrám Chúbína. 'Twas a prudent, brave,
And dauntless host, and wary as a lion
Was their commander. When he had departed
The monarch of the world himself withdrew,
Was privy with his archimage¹⁰⁷ and said:—
“Upon the day of fight this man will laugh
For joy! What will result? Let us confer.”
The archmage answered: “Mayst thou live for ever,
For thou deservest everlasting life.
This paladin possessed of such a mien
And stature, ready speech and ardent soul,
Must needs be happy and victorious,
And cause a barren world to bring forth fruit;
But yet I fear me that he will revolt
At last against his sovereign and patron
Because he talked with such audacity,
And spake so like a lion to the Sháh.”

The archimage,

On hearing what the Sháh said, paled and bit
His lips. The king himself moreover kept
The thing in mind, and in a while selected
A courtier as his confidant to learn
How matters stood, and said: “Pursue in haste
The paladin and tell what thou observest.”
The agent followed swiftly, known to none.
He was a guide, in omens skilled, and used
To utter his prognostics to the Sháh.
Bahrám Chúbína, quitting Taisafún,
Led on the host himself. In front appeared,
And far from him, one that purveyed sheep's heads,
Which rose above a clean draped wicker tray.
The chieftain urged his horse and, strange to tell!
Pierced one head with his spear, rode off with it
Aloft, then flung it where he would and drew
An omen from the matter, saying thus:—
“Just so will I cut off king Sáwa's head,
Will throw it in his army's line of march,
And shatter all his host.”

The emissary,

Sent by the Sháh, drew too his presage, saying:—
“This favourite of fortune will attain,
His labours done, the crown at last for when
His end is gained he will grow troublesome,
And will rebel.”

He went and told the king,

Who wedded grief and anguish for the words
Were worse than death to him. He withered up,
That verdant leaf grew sere. He called to him
A young man of the court and sent him off
In all haste to the paladin and said:—
“Depart and tell the captain of the host:—
‘For this night tarry where thou art. At dawn
Turn back and come to me for I would clear
The court of strangers and advise thee further,
For thoughts of profit have occurred to me.’”
The messenger came to the paladin,
And told what he had heard. Bahrám Chúbína
Made this reply: “Men do not, O wise Sháh!
Recall an army on the march; such action
Would be ill-omened and would reinforce

The messenger returned and gave

The warrior's answer to the Sháh and he
Was satisfied. That envoy's toil was vain.
At dawn the captain of the host led on
The troops and called God's blessing down on them.
He marched to Khúzistán:¹⁰⁹ the troops harmed none.
There came a woman with a sack of hay
Among them and a horseman purchased it,
Refused to pay her, and made off. She came
Lamenting to Bahrám Chúbína, saying:—
“I have some hay concealed. I brought a sack's worth,
And passed before thy troops. A cavalier,
With iron helm, hath taken it from me
While on the march!”

Forthwith they sought the man,

And haled him quickly to the general.
The brave Bahrám Chúbína said to him:—
“So thou didst think this fault a little one!”
They smashed his head and hands and feet. The chief
Had him dragged forth before the camp-enclosure,
Then clave him through the middle with the sword,
And filled the heart of the unjust with terror.
Then from the camp-enclosure 'twas proclaimed:—
“O ye illustrious men and of good will!
The stealer of a stalk of hay shall find
No intercessor. I will cleave his waist
Asunder with the sword. Let all procure
By payment what they need.”

Bahrám Chúbína

Led on his host well ordered and they marched
Toward Dámaghán.

The Sháh was full of care

At Sáwa's army, elephants, and treasures,
¹¹⁰ And spake thus to Kharrád, son of Barzín,
One night at rise of moon: “Prepare to go
To our opponent and be diligent,
Not slumbering but speeding. Mark his troops
As to their numbers and their quality,
And who their leader and their warriors are.”
He ordered that a letter of advice
Should be indited to the hostile king,
And countless royal presents sent therewith.
He said thus to the messenger: “Proceed
Toward Harát and if a host appear
Know it for that of brave Bahrám Chúbína,

King Sáwa,

Concerned what course to take, called from the tent
The envoy of the Sháh and rated him:—
“Didst not foresee, thou crafty Áhriman!
A fall from thy high station? From the court
Of that vile Sháh thou camest to ensnare me,
And leadest forth to war a Persian host,
Encamping on the meadows of Harát!”
Kharrád, son of Barzín, replied: “The force
Confronting thine is small. Take not its coming
In ill part; 'tis some marchlord passing by,
Or some chief seeking shelter with the Sháh,
Or merchants who have brought an escort with them
To guard them on their way. Who would confront thee,
Though mountains turn to seas, to seek revenge?
I will send one to find out who or what
This traveller is.”¹¹¹

His words rejoiced king Sáwa,

Who said: “In truth that is the course to take.
We will dispatch to learn if friend or foe
They be.”

Now as Kharrád, son of Barzín,

Withdrew to his own tent the night o'ertopped
The mountains, and he gat in readiness
To flee the wrath to come. At dead of night
The monarch bade Faghfúr go with an escort

The horseman went like dust and cried:—
“Who are your chiefs and leader, noble sirs!
And champion in the combat, for Faghfúr,
Who is king Sáwa's heart and eyes, would see him
Without attendance?”

Came a warrior

Forth from the troops and told Bahrám Chúbína
What he had heard. The captain of the host
Went from the tent-enclosure and his flag
Was reared resplendent over him. Faghfúr
Of Chín, perceiving, hasted and made sweat
His prancing steed, and questioned: “Whence art thou?
Why haltest here? I hear that thou hast fled
From Párs as one who being wronged shed blood.”
Bahrám Chúbína answered: “God forbid
That I should purpose vengeance on the Sháh.
I came forth from Baghdád with this array
To fight by his command, for when the news
About king Sáwa and his host reached court
He said to me: ‘Go forth and hold the road
With arrows, maces, spears, and scimitars.’”
On hearing this Faghfúr sped back to tell
His sire how matters stood. Being thus apprised,
And grown suspicious, Sáwa sought forthwith
The envoy of the Sháh but some one said:—
“Kharrád, son of Barzín, hath fled with tears
Of blood at having come.”

“How could that foe,”

Said Sáwa to his son, “get clear away
At night from such a countless host as this,
And wherefore have the guards been so remiss?”

He sent thereafter to Bahrám Chúbína
A fluent elder, saying: “Go and tell
This Persian: ‘Mar not out of foolishness
Thy reputation here, for surely thou
Must know this much—that that great king of thine
Would have thy life and therefore sendeth thee
To fight with one nigh peerless in the world.

The messenger

Went to Bahrám Chúbína and thus spake:—
“Reveal thy purposes because my king
Is favoured by the stars and he would have
Thee do his will.”

Bahrám Chúbína said:—

“Say: ‘If thou wouldst do right act openly.
If friendship with the monarch of the world
Be secretly thy wish I will receive thee
On this march as a guest and pledge myself
To grant thee thy desires. I will bestow
On thy troops gold and silver, crowns and girdles
Upon those worthy of them. I will send
The Sháh a cavalier that he may come
Half way to meet thee and, as equals do,
Provide thee provand. If thou art a friend
He will make much of thee, but if thou hast
Come hither for contention, to the deep,
And to the crocodile's maw, then thou shalt quit
The desert of Harát in such a plight
That all chiefs shall bewail thee. May a ditch
Be at thy door on thy return, may blast
Pursue and rain companion thee, for naught
But ill luck brought thee hither, being fain
That ill befall thy head.’”

The messenger

Turned back, came like the wind, and gave the answer
Of that aspirant. Hearing it king Sáwa
Was wroth with that stone-hearted opposite;
His heart was straitened at that chill response,
And thinking of it filled his cheeks with shame.
He said: “Go, take yon human dív this message:—
‘Thou hast no fame in war; I would not slay thee.
Such as thy Sháh are servants at my court,
And set by thee my meanest slaves are chiefs.
If thou shalt ask for quarter at my hands
I will exalt thy head above the throng,
Thou shalt have many gifts from me, and all
Thy troops shall be enriched; but one aspiring

That pround monarch's envoy

Came to Bahrám Chúbína and delivered
Those biting words which yet were what he wished.
On hearing he informed the man: “Thy lord
Must hear my answer: ‘If I am so mean
That meanness covereth my head with shame,
The king of kings for his part was ashamed
To come out in his wrath to fight with thee.
'Tis through my meanness that I have marched forth
With troops to wreck the kindred of king Sáwa.
I will cut off his head and carry it
Before the Sháh; it is not worth my while
To stick it on my spear upon the road.
For me to grant thee quarter would demean thee,
But I will fall upon thee in my meanness.
Thou shalt not see me save upon the day
Of fight and followed by my dark-blue flag,
Because if thou upon that dragon glance
'Tis death; thy head and helm shall sheath my lance.’”

King Sáwa's envoy, when he heard those words
Of stern defiance, showed his back. He went,
And told what he had heard and seen whereat
The Turks' king's head breathed vengeance and he bade
To bring the tymbals forth and to lead out
The elephants high-crested to the plain.
The realm was darkened with the dust of hoofs,
The trumpets blared. Now when Bahrám Chúbína
Heard that a host had come, and plains and vales
Were yellow, red, and black, he bade his men
Mount and rode forth in armour, mace in hand.
Behind him lay Harát, before a host
Of swordsmen. He drew up the wings. The troops
Were as one heart and body. Thou hadst said:—
“The world is all cuirass; a star is shining
On every spear.”

King Sáwa viewed that field,

Its order and array, perceived that while
Bahrám Chúbína rested on Harát
His own position was both cramped and ill,
And thus addressed his horsemen, veterans,
And intimates: “A lying messenger
Came from the Persian leader of the folk,

Then from the champaign of Harát he sent
Again a warrior of eloquence,
A man all guileful, to Bahrám Chúbína
To say: “Thou hast not wedded heaven's own fortune:
Wilt thou not hear advice and such appeals?
Make friends with wisdom, open thine heart's eyes.
Thou hast found two whose equals in the world
Have never yet been born of royal race;
They shine like suns in heaven and all the year
Are clad in mail, they are so valorous.
One is myself, the lawful king of earth;
The other is my high-born son Parmúda.
My troops are more than leaves upon the trees,
Had some the skill to number them. If I
Should reckon up my men and elephants
Thou wouldest smile at rain-drops from Spring-clouds.
There are tents, tent-enclosures, implements
Of war beyond conception; shouldst thou count
Withal my steeds and men, my wastes and mountains,
Thou wouldest marvel. All the other kings,
If worthy of such honour, are my lieges.
If seas had life¹¹⁷ and mountains feet to run
They could not carry off my treasury,
Arms, implements, and fruitage of my toils.
The glorious Great, save for thy Persian lord,
Throughout the world acclaim me as their king,
And thy life also lieth in my hands

How Bahrám Chúbína had a Dream in the Night, how he gave Battle the next Morning, and how King Sáwa was slain

Now when Bahrám Chúbína was alone
Within his tent he sent and¹²¹ called the Íránians,
And with his troops took counsel for the fight
Till dark, till Turk and Persian both reposed,
And he that would might have the world for naught;
But brave Bahrám Chúbína still mused war,
While sleeping in his tent. That Lion dreamed
That in the fight the Turks proved valorous,
While his own troops were routed and himself,
Debarred more strife, unsuccoured and afoot,
Asked quarter of the heroes of the foe.
He woke in grief, his noble head sore troubled,
With pain and sorrow passed the hours of dark,
Arrayed himself but told to none his dream.
Just then arrived Kharrád, son of Barzín,
Who had escaped king Sáwa, and spake thus:—
^121a “What confidence is this? Behold the snare
Of Áhriman and give not to the winds
Íránian lives but treat these nobles fairly;
For valour's sake take pity on thy life,
For nevermore will such a task confront thee.”
“Thy city,” said Bahrám Chúbína, “yieldeth
No valour save thy sample, for all there
Sell fish from Summer-time¹²² till snow-storms come.

Bahrám Chúbína

Cried at him furiously: “Thou recreant wretch!
Thy business is with inkstand and with paper:
Who bade thee take the number of the host?”
The scribe approached Kharrád, son of Barzín,
And said: “Bahrám Chúbína and the Dív
Are mates!”

Those scribes then sought a way to flee

That they might not behold that day of doom.
They feared both king of kings and arrow-rain,
And bit their lips. On one side and afar
From those Túránian horsemen they beheld
A height precipitous and thither fared

Still praying loudly

He mounted with his ox-head mace in hand.
¹²³ King Sáwa thus addressed his host: “Begin
Your incantations that the Íránians
May quail in heart and eye, and no disaster
Befall yourselves.”

Then all the sorcerers

Began their spells and hurled fire through the air.
¹²⁴ Rose blast and murky cloud whence arrows showered
Upon the Íránians. Bahrám Chúbína
Exclaimed: “Chiefs, magnates of Írán, and heroes!
Shut ye your eyes to all these magic arts,
And come all wroth to fight, for this is naught
But trick and sorcery, and they that use
Such means demand our tears.”

The Íránians shouted,

And girt their loins for bloodshed, while king Sáwa
Surveyed the field, saw that the foe recoiled not
At those black arts but came on all the more,
Led by Bahrám Chúbína, and assailed,
Like wolf a lamb, their left, brake it and charged,
Like one bemused, Bahrám Chúbína's centre,
Who thence saw how his soldiers fled the foe,
Came, with his spear unhorsed three warriors,
And dashed them headlong to the ground, exclaiming:—

Then he made toward the right,

As 'twere a lusty lion famishing,
And brake the mighty force opposed to him,
So that their leader's banner disappeared.
Thence he departed to his army's centre,
To where the leader was among the troops,
And said to him: “Perdition take it all!
If this fight last the host will be dispersed!
Look out in what direction to retreat.”
They went and sought; there was not any way
Because the proper road was mounded over.
Then to that leader said Bahrám Chúbína:—
“There is an iron wall in front of us,
And only he that knoweth how to make
A breach therein can gain the other side,
Safe-guard himself and carry to Írán,
And to the monarch of the brave, his life.
All put your whole heart in it, shield your heads,
And ply your swords. If sleepless fortune help us
It will repay our toils with thrones and crowns.
Let none despair of God or ye may see
Your white day turn to gloom.”

King Sáwá thus

Harangued his chiefs: “Advance the elephants
Before the host, attack in force, and make
The world both dark and narrow to our foes.”
Bahrám Chúbína from afar beheld
The elephants, was grieved, unsheathed his sword,
And thus addressed his captains: “Warriors famed!
String up your bows of Chách and helm ye all.
Now by the life and head of this world's king,
The chosen of the lords and crown of chiefs,
Let every one that hath artillery
String up his bow perforce and let him fix
His arrows, fashioned out of triple wood,
Whose points are keen for blood, upon the trunks
Of yonder elephants, then out with mace,
On to the fight, and slay your enemies.”
The chieftain strung his bow and set a casque
Of steel upon his head. He made his bow
As 'twere a cloud in Spring and showered arrows
Before the host: the soldiers followed him.
The stars were dimmed by pointed, feathered shafts.
They pierced the elephants' trunks, and dale and plain
Grew like a pool of blood. The elephants
Turned from the smart and fled the battlefield.

Such deeds the turning sky

Doth, showing neither love nor enmity.
Joy not in lofty throne and greatly fear,
What time thou feel'st secure, disaster near.
The brave Bahrám Chúbína came and dragged
The corpse face downward wallowing in the dust,
And severed that crowned head while none of all
Its kindred came anear. When the Turks found
Their king the corpse lay headless on the road.
All wailed; cries filled the earth; the air resounded,
And he that was the son of Sáwa said:—
“This is God's doing, for unsleeping fortune
Is with Bahrám Chúbína.”

Multitudes

Died in the strait defiles. The elephants
Trod many under foot; not one in ten
Of all that host escaped. They perished crushed
Beneath the elephants or were beheaded
Upon the battlefield, and when nine hours
Of that ill day had gone the Íránians saw
No enemy alive save prisoners bound,
Their souls and bodies pierced with grief and shafts.
The route was strewn with bards and helms whose heads
Were suffocate therein,¹²⁷ with Indian swords,
With arrows and with bows dropped by the foe
On all sides. Earth was like a sea of blood
With slain, and everywhere were saddled steeds.
Bahrám Chúbína went his rounds to learn
Who had been slain upon the Íránian side;
Then said he to Kharrád, son of Barzín:—
“Give me thine aid to-day and ascertain
What slain Íránians it is ours to mourn.”
He went through all the tents. One man of worship
Was missing in the host—a chieftain named
Bahrám, who was the son of Siyáwush,
A valiant prince, a magnate of Írán,
Descended from a captain of the host.
Like one insane Kharrád went forth in quest
Of traces of him, moving many a form
Of slain and wounded men but found no sign.
The captain of the host was grieved thereat,
And cried: “Alas! thou prudent warrior!”
Howbeit the man himself appeared anon,
A key to that locked door, and with a Turk
Red-haired, cat-eyed, and, as thou wouldst have said,
With heart all wrung with rage. Bahrám Chúbína
Cried when he saw Bahrám: “Ne'er be it thine
To wed the dust!” then of that foul Turk asked:—
“O thou hell-visaged, banned from Paradise!
What man art thou? What is thy name and birth,
For she who bare thee will have cause to weep?”
He said: “A warlock I. I meddle not
With manhood and with manliness but help
My chief in battle when things reach a pass,
And make him dream of what will hearten him.
I gave thee that ill dream last night to bring
Ill on thy head, but I must seek for means
More potent¹²⁸ for my sorcery hath failed,
Ill-fortune hath recoiled upon my head,
And all my toil is wedded to the wind.

On hearing this

Bahrám Chúbína mused, his heart was troubled,
His visage wan. Anon he said: “This man
Might prove of service in the stress of fight,”
But said again: “What did king Sáwa profit
Through this dark-dealing warlock? All good things
Descend from God on fortune's favourites,”
Then bade cut off his head and robbed of life
His feckless form, which done Bahrám Chúbína
Stood up and said: “O just and upright Judge!
From Thee are greatness, victory, the Glory,
High place, the diadem of king of kings,
Distress and joy. Blest is the warrior
That followeth Thy way.”

The archscribe came,

And spake thus: “Valiant Farídún, Bahrám,
¹²⁹ And Núshírwán ne'er saw one like to thee,
O lusty paladin! Possessed art thou
Of lion's courage, counsel, and device.
May no calamity befall thy life.
Through thee the cities of Írán all live,
And all the paladins are but thy slaves.
Through thee the exalted throne hath been exalted,
And every liege escaped mishap. Thou art
A chieftain and a chieftain's son, and blest
Is she that brought forth such a child, for thou
Art glorious by birth and enterprise,
A king all absolute in Grace and wisdom.”
Then the Sháh's paladins and men of might
Dispersed themselves and left the scene of fight.

How Bahrám Chúbína sent a Letter announcing his Victory, and the Head of King Sáwa, to Hur-muzd, and his Answer

When night had curled its locks and sent thereby
The eye to sleep, and when the Ebon Veil
Appeared, the world had respite from the drum.
Meanwhile the wheel of heaven turned apace
In view of darksome night and hurried on
Till from the deep a Golden Vessel rose,
And travail waxed and slumber fined away.
Then came the captain of the host and sent
Some one to bid his comrades good at need:—
“All those that have been slain among the chiefs,
War-cavaliers and captains of the Turks,
Each leader of the folk, behead and set

On this Parmúda

Reflected on Bahrám Chúbína's deeds,

Hearing this, the king of kings

Rose, quickly bowed, and standing in God's presence
Said: “O Thou righteous Guide! Thou hast destroyed
Our foes, Thou Fashioner of sun and moon!
Great was my wretchedness and my despair
What time the foe came headlong from his throne!
'Twas neither chieftain nor the warrior-host
That did this, but God's goodness to His slave.”
Then from the treasures that his sire had left
He had a hundred thousand drachms brought forth,
With one third first gave largess to the poor,
But the more part to his own servitors,
And sent the Fanes of Fire another third,
There to be given over to the priests
To grace the Feasts of New Year and of Sada.
With what was left men sought out and repaired
The ruined sites and caravansaries
In desert places, rendering the roads

The Sháh next passed

Two weeks in prayer; then when the world's light rose
He called the envoy of the paladin,
And seated him rejoicing 'mongst the lords;
Then wrote an answer instantly and set
A tree within the garth of majesty,
Sent too a silver throne and golden boots,
And wealth of all sorts. All that lay between
Haitál and the great river¹³³ he bestowed
On that bold paladin^133a and bade: “Distribute
Spoil ta'en on way and waste among the troops
Except king Sáwa's private property;
Let that be sent to court. This done, make war
Upon Parmúda till he is o'erthrown.”
Hurmuzd sent gifts too to the Íránians,
Confirmed by letters written to each city.
They gave the messenger a robe of honour,
And called thereafter for the nobles' steeds.
Bahrám Chúbína, when the envoy came,
Joyed well content and gave the troops much booty,
Except the wealth pertaining to king Sáwa,
The impure of heart; this he dispatched with horsemen,
Famed veterans of his kin, who bore it all
To court what while the chieftain went his way,
He and his army, to renew the fray.

How Bahrám Chúbína fought with Parmúda, Son of King Sáwa, and overcame him, and how Parmúda took Refuge in the Hold of Áwáza

Parmúda, when news came “Bahrám Chúbína
Is seeking for the throne of empire,” held
A stronghold hight Áwáza where he joyed
Secure. Therein he stored whate'er he had
Of money, jewels, and of other treasures,
And passing with his army o'er Jíhún
Proceeded proudly to the seat of war.
The hosts drew near for battle, dallying not
Upon the march, and chose a fitting field
Two stages out of Balkh. Between the hosts
Two leagues of plain lay suitable for fight.

Now when Parmúda

Returned to camp he canvassed schemes for fight,
And said: “It is an excellence of theirs
That though their troops are few their horse are splendid,
And in the chief degree of warriors,
Well armed, and have for chief Bahrám Chúbína,
A man to whom spears are as thorns and weeds,
With heart elate at conquering king Sáwa,
And drunk with gore; yet by the Maker's aid
I will require from that huge Mountain-mass
The vengeance owing for my father's blood.”
Now when Bahrám Chúbína left Írán
To fight the Turks a reader of the stars
Said: “Stir not on the Wednesday of each week,
Or harm will follow, and thy whole emprise
Prove profitless.”

Between the hosts there lay

A garden bordered by the battlefield,
And on the Wednesday of the week at dawn
Bahrám Chúbína thither went and said:—
“We will be glad to-day.”

They carried thither

Rich carpetings; he took wine, meat, and minstrels,
And coming to that garden revelled there.
Now when a watch of darksome night had passed
The outposts brought Parmúda the report:—
“Bahrám Chúbína revelleth in the garden.”
The chieftain chose among his warriors
Six thousand cavaliers, all valiant men,
And sent them forth without lights to surround
The garth and take the Íránian chiefs. Now when
Bahrám Chúbína was aware thereof,
And of the plan and purpose of Parmúda,
He thus addressed Yalán-sína: “O chieftain!
Break us a passage through the garden-wall.”
Bahrám Chúbína and Ízid Gashasp,
With other warriors, mounted on their steeds.

The king replied:—

“How long, O ravening lion! wilt thou be
Thus keen for bloodshed? Crocodiles in water,
And pards on land, grow satiate with the blood
Of heroes in the fight. Will naught sate thee?
Methinketh that thou art a ravening lion,
Thou who hast stricken off king Sáwa's head—
A man beloved through life by circling heaven—
And slaughtered so his troops that sun and moon
Feel ruth for them, while as for me who am
That valiant king's memorial, know that thou
Hast slain me too with sheer distress. We all

Bahrám Chúbína,

On hearing this, turned back, for that curst foe
Had grown so gracious. When the troops had rested,
And come to king Parmúda's camp, they fared
About the field, cut off the chieftains' heads,
And heaped them till the pile grew mountain-like:
The hero's men of name called it Bahrám Tal.
¹³⁸ Whate'er they saw of horsemen's equipage,
And other booty, they assembled there.
Bahrám Chúbína wrote the king a letter
About Parmúda and his countless host,
Narrating “all that hath befallen us
Both from the Turks and from their warlike king,
Whose heart was eager to avenge his sire,
And who departed to Áwáza hence.”
Parmúda, on his side, made fast the hold,
And sat down deep in thought, while in pursuit
Came countless troops and circled it about;
But though so many leaguered it none knew
Parmúda's plans. Bahrám Chúbína said:—
“The toils of war are better than delay,
And so he told Yal-án-sína to choose
Three thousand of the horsemen on the field,
And further that Ízid Gashasp should call
To horse four thousand warriors of the troops.
He bade behead forthwith all whom they found,
Thus haply from the hold the king to draw
When all the waste a-stream with blood he saw.

Bahrám Chúbína stayed before the hold
Three days but sent at sun-rise on the fourth
This message to Parmúda as the chief
Both of the realm and race: “O noble king
Of Chín and of the Turks! why hast thou chosen
To occupy this stronghold? Where are now
King Sáwa's passion to possess the world,
And all his treasure, power, and elephants,
His armour for the steeds and ardent chiefs?
Where are thy witchcraft and thy sorcery
That now thou dost seclude thyself? Time was
When all the Turks'domain was not enough
For thee, thy father peerless in the world.
Now womanlike thou sittest in this hold,
With full heart, beating thine own head. Undo
The castle-gate, seek quarter, ask of me
To plead for thee before my king. Dispatch
Thy treasures of dínárs and all thy purses
From this hold plain-ward or if thou keep them
Keep not the realm for kings despise dínárs.
Myself will intercede for thee at court
Because I am the champion of Írán;
Thee will I make chief of all chiefs and treat thee
Above thine aims and thine imaginings.
Now if thou hast some hidden policy,
One that will make thy gloomy prospects bright,
Confide in me; since thine affairs are thus
Be not thou distant. I have given thee quarter,
As thou dost know, and opened thee a way
To scape by, else thou hadst been lifeless now,
As is thy sire, and seen not son or kindred:
But if thou hast companions for the fight,
With treasure and abundance of dínárs,
Exert thyself herein and take revenge,
For troops are not to seek where there is treasure.”
The messenger arriving told his message,
Which when Parmúda, the ambitious, heard
He answered: “Say: ‘If so thou canst forbear
To search out this world's secrets. Thou perchance
Hast made too bold therewith because thy toils
Have brought forth fruit; yet in thy victory
Joy not; though thou art young the world is old.
The secret of the turning sky is known
To none; it never showeth us its face.
To mock becometh not a general.
I too had soldiers, elephants, and drums,

They wrote a letter that might bear good fruit
To that victorious and exalted Ṣháh:—
“The Khán of Chín is suppliant for quarter;
He is beleaguered by Bahrám Chúbína,
And needeth a safe-conduct under seal;
The news thereof will be a feast to him.
Now since the suppliant is the Khán of Chín,
Fall'n from such dignity to wretchedness,
The king of kings should pity one whose worship
Hath passed away.”

Now when the letter reached

The Sháh he cloudward raised his glorious crown.
He sent and summoned the Íránians,
And set them by the famous throne of kingship,

He wrote

An answer also to that world-aspirant,
^142b A letter all good will like Paradise,
And said: “Dispatch Parmúda to my court
With all observance but without his host.
The booty that thou tookest from his troops—
A service which thou didst right zealously—
Send thither too, whate'er of it is worthy.
The Maker aideth thee. Spy out the foe,
And if he hath a stronghold let thy guards
Seize and consume it through thy glorious fortune,
And world-illuming presages. If thou
Hast need of further troops they shall be thine,
And there shall be addition to thy treasures.
State thy demands in writing; we will send
Whatever troops are needed. In thy letter
Name those Íránians that have acted well
In thine esteem; their toils shall be rewarded.
Thy troops the guardians of the march shall be;
The crown of paladins I give to thee.”

How Hurmuzd's Letter granting Quarter to Parmúda reached Bahrám Chúbína, and how Bahrám Chúbína was wroth with Parmúda

Now when this letter reached the paladin
That famous chieftain's heart grew young; the letter
Astounded him. He sent and called the Íránians,
And showed the Sháh's gifts; all that saw them blessed him.
He showed the Íránians too all that Hurmuzd
Had written of them. The warriors acclaimed;
Thou wouldst have said: “Earth's surface shook.”
He sent too
The honourable safe-conduct for Parmúda,
Giv'n by the monarch, to the hold to him;
His darkened soul grew bright. With many blessings
Upon the king he left his famous fortress,
And leaving to Bahrám Chúbína all
The wealth therein made ready to depart.
Descending from the hold the proud Parmúda
Bestrode his charger swift as flying dust,
And set forth with his troops without regard
To bold Bahrám Chúbína who chagrined
Thereat, and though his captive was a king,
Sent after him and had him brought afoot,
And running in the presence of the troops;
Then said to him indignantly: “Are such
Your manners in Túrán and Chín—to go
Without leave asked of me? Sheer folly this!”
Parmúda said: “Once I was raised o'er folk,
But now am humbled and a suppliant,
Cast vilely from the zenith of my power.
To-day withal thou art not generous
In bringing me before thee, evil one!
Now that I have the letter of safe-conduct
I purpose going to the king. Perchance
He will receive me brother-like; misfortune
May grow more light to me. What wouldst thou more?
I have surrendered fortune, home, and goods.”
Bahrám Chúbína raged with flashing eyes
In indignation at Parmúda's words,
And struck him in excitement with a whip—
Behaviour only fit for miscreants.
They bound Parmúda's feet forthwith and made
A scanty tent his prison. Said thereat

He sought the archscribe,

And said: “This mighty paladin possesseth
Not one gnat's wing of wisdom!¹⁴⁴ so he taketh
No heed of any one, and we must go,
And say to him: ‘This is remediless.’
His temper is his great calamity.”
The two departed to Bahrám Chúbína
With pallid cheeks and counsel on their tongues,
And told him: “Thou hast given to the winds
Thy toil! Oh! be that noble head of thine
Unfilled with fire!”

Ware of his foul behaviour,

That into water had been flung a brick
Already dried, he in his penitence
Released the Khán and was in great concern.
He sent the Khán a steed with golden trappings,
And Indian falchion with a golden scabbard,
Moreover went forthwith to him to make
His dark soul bright, there tarried till the Khán
Had armed and mounted on a speedy steed,
And then escorted him upon his way,
Perceiving that the prince's visage loured.
When it was time to part Bahrám Chúbína
Told him: “Thou hast a secret grudge against me;
Yet, though it be so, tell it not the Sháh;
No credit will result to thee therefrom.”
The Khán replied to him: “It is of fortune
That I complain; I leave it all to God.
I am not such an one as would desire
To speak in many words of other men;
Still if thy monarch hath no news hereof
He is not worthy of his high estate.
It was the turning sky that fettered me;
I tell not of ill usage from a slave.”
Thereat Bahrám Chúbína paled; he writhed,
But with an effort swallowed down his wrath,
And thus returned reply: “An instance this
Of what the famous nobles used to say:—
‘Forbear thine utmost seed of ill to cast,
For time will give thee fruit thereof at last.’
¹⁴⁵ To what end did I deck for thee my heart,
Attempt to do thee kindness in the world,
And wrote its lord a letter hiding all
Thine own shortcomings?”

“That,” the Khán rejoined,

“Is past, and all the past hath turned to wind.
By God! I do not owe thee any grudge,
Or cherish in my heart the former strife.
Thy kindness hath been greater than this wrong,
And thou didst guide me on the way to good;
But just as there is insolence in war,
So is there courtesy in time of peace,

“This ill-conditioned one,”

Bahrám Chúbína said. “would join his sire.”
The Khán said: “Wrong me not. Reft as I am
Of mine own father I may well die young.
All those that in the world are like thyself,
With heads all dust-cloud and with hearts all fume,
Imagine ill, accord to none, but raise
Themselves by craft and cruelty. I fear not
The king of kings; from him bale or relief
Is well. He is my peer among the great,
And not a slave malignantly disposed
Towards me, but is gentle, wise, high-born,
And greatly mindful of the men of name.
I charge thee by the soul and by the head
Of Sháh Hurmuzd that thou return forthwith.
Give me no more replies and insolence;
Say naught and hear naught.”

When Bahrám Chúbína

Heard he returned to camp in vengeful mood,
And thus that proven warrior harangued
The prudent chiefs: “Kharrád, son of Barzín,
And those wise men, the archscribe and arch-mages,

How Parmúda came before Hurmuzd with the Treasures sent by Bahrám Chúbína

With treasure, gifts, and troops the Khán drew near
The monarch of the world who heard and mounted
With crown on head and mace in hand, and thus
Came to the gate. When from the porch he saw
The visage of the Khán he paused to note
If at the sight of him that prince and troops
Would light down from their steeds. Parmúda watched,
Full of concern, if he would turn away,
Then, mounted still, came with the archimage,
Ízid Gashasp, whereat the Sháh, the world-lord,
Bestirred him with his troops. The Khán alighted
And hastened toward the Sháh, without delay
Remounting his black Arab, while the Great King
Abode not with Parmúda in the porch,
And rode his fleet steed off; but when the Khán
Was following, the keeper of the curtain
Laid hold upon his reins forthwith. Parmúda
Alighted instantly and manifested
His own diplomacy by that submission.
Now when the Khán approached the royal throne
The king of kings received him with all favour,
And having welcomed set him in the presence,
Repenting of the past hostility.
They lodged him fitly in the pleasant palace
Prepared for him and brought whate'er he needed.
A scribe was charged to lodge the retinue
Hard by. The Sháh, on hearing of the wealth
Brought by Parmúda, sent it to the park,
And charged therewith the keeper of the camels.
The eighth day, when Parmúda was refreshed
From all his toils, the Sháh ordained a feast,
And, when the Khán was seated at the board
At court and in the presence of the world-lord,
Bade bring the camel-loads before the chiefs.
One counted up the porters; on that day
There were ten thousand hired. The next, at dawn,
Hurmuzd had wine set forth and took his seat,
And from the park came fifty thousand bales
As well as parcels on the porters' backs.

He at that time

Said to his confidant Ízid Gashasp:—
¹⁵⁰ “What seest thou in Bahrám Chúbína's exploit?
He maketh war to cease right manfully.”
The scribe Ízid Gashasp replied: “O Sháh,
Who art observant and of ardent mind!
When at a feast the theme is such know there
Will likewise be but ill-conditioned fare.”
^150a The Sháh became suspiciously inclined
On hearing this; misdoubtings filled his mind.

Then came a lusty camel-post and brought
This letter from the archscribe: “May the world-lord
Be ever joyful and his head and crown
For ever present in his servant's thoughts.
Know that there were two curtains of Yaman
Among the spoil, boots decked with gems uncut,
The earrings too of noble Siyáwush,
Who left us wisdom as his monument,
And these the paladin bare off with him
^150b No marvel since he underwent the toil.”
Hurmuzd said to Parmúda: “Tell me all
That thou didst see hereof.”

The fallen king

Confirmed the scribe's report. The haughty Sháh
Was wroth thereat and said: “Bahrám Chúbína
Doth err, uplifting to the moon his head.
For one thing he hath struck the Khán of Chín—
An act the outcome of an evil nature—
And then would nothing but these earrings serve
His turn? Perhaps he hath become a king.
His toil hath turned to wind and all his knowledge
And justice have become corrupt.”

This said,

He called the Khán and having seated him
Upon the famous throne they feasted there
Till night spread out her musky tresses black.

As he sat

He grasped the Khán‘s hand, and Parmúda marvelled.
The Sháh proceeded: “Swear to me afresh,
And make a new departure, not to break
With me or with the nobles of this folk
On thy return.”

Parmúda swore forthwith:—

“By shining daylight and night azure-dim,
By God who hath of right supremacy,
The Artificer of Jupiter and Venus,
The great Sháh's crown and throne, Ázargashasp,
The signet and the diadem, the Khán
Shall not grow alien from the Sháh in heart,
And vex him not in aught.”

This sworn, they rose

And sought their couches.

When the yellow sun

O'er-topped the mountains, and the kings awoke,
The noble Sháh prepared a present—ware
Of gold and silver, horses, coronets,
Of girdles gemmed and golden, armlets, torques,
And earrings, Arab steeds with golden trappings,
And Indian scimitars with golden sheaths,
Dispatched them to the Khán, consorted with him
Two stages and the more part of the third,
And having bidden him farewell returned.
The paladin, on hearing of the gifts
Presented by the monarch of the world,
And how the Khán was coming back rejoicing,
Rode forth to meet him with the Íránian chiefs.
He stored provisions where the Khán would pass
In town and village, station, hill, and plain,
And hurried on in shame at his ill temper
To make excuse in person. When he saw
Parmúda he did reverence but the Khán
Proved wholly adverse, would accept of naught
That he had brought of provand, purse, or slave,
And on the way ignored him utterly.
Bahrám Chúbína fared three stages thus,
And not once did Parmúda call for him.
Upon the fourth the Khán sent one to say:—
“Return for thou hast toiled enough.”

Thereat

Bahrám Chúbína left him and in wrath
Set face toward Balkh where he abode in dudgeon,
Repenting of his acts with aching heart.
Withal the world-lord was displeased with him,
And fumes of anger filled the monarch's soul

How Hurmuzd wrote a chiding Letter to Bahrám Chúbína and sent him a Distaff-case, Cotton, and Women's Raiment

The king then wrote thus to Bahrám Chúbína:—
“Unconscionable div! perceiv'st thou not
That all our excellencies are from God,
And yet thou sittest on the vault of heaven?
Hast thou forgot my pains, troops, toil, and treasure?
Thou keepest not the way of paladins,
But raisest thy head skyward. Thou hast turned
From my behest and acted otherwise.
Here is the robe of honour meet for thee,
Agreeable and appropriate to thine acts.”
The Sháh, when he had sealed this, ordered one
To bring him a black distaff-case with distaff
And cotton, much unworthy gear, withal
A blue silk shift, red drawers, and yellow coif,
Chose an ignoble messenger to match
With that unseemly gift and said: “Convey
These to Bahrám Chúbína. Say to him:—
‘O worthless miscreant! thou didst bind the Khán,
And gloat upon great men's mishaps, but I
Will fetch thee from thy seat and hold thee naught
Henceforth.’”

The messenger, these words in mind,

Departed with the gift and went like wind.

How Bahrám Chúbína put on the Woman's Dress and showed himself therein to the Chiefs of the Host

Whenas Bahrám Chúbína saw the present
Sent with the letter he endured in silence.
He thought: “This is my guerdon! So the Sháh
Is now my foe though he hath not devised
This wrong but mine ill-wishers slandered me.
The world-lord is the master of his slaves,
And if he putteth me to shame 'tis well.

He said: “Forbear:

The Sháh is source of honour to his troops;
His slaves are we; he giveth, we receive.”
The Íránians said: “We will not arm henceforth;
We will not have him in Írán as Sháh,
Or, as our general, Bahrám Chúbína.”
They spake and went forth from his presence, left
The palace of the chieftain¹⁵⁶ for the plain,
But he refrained his lips and at the most
Gave only prudent counsels to the host.

Two weeks passed, then Bahrám Chúbína left
His palace for the waste. In front of him
There was a forest furnished well with trees —
The very place for lucky revellers.
Upon the mead he saw an onager,
And none will see a fairer one. He followed
At leisure, heating not his steed. Appeared
Within that woodland-chase a narrow path,
Which when that gallant onager had traversed
A pleasance next was seen upon the plain.
Bahrám Chúbína, marking this, proceeded
Until a splendid palace came in sight.
Led by the onager he turned and rode
Thereto; behind him was Ízid Gashasp,
To whom he gave his fleet steed's reins and said:—
“May wisdom ever be thy mate,” then entered
The porch alone. Ízid Gashasp the while
Abode without and held the noble steed.
Behind him hurrying came Yalán-sína
Armed on a swift horse. Brave Ízid Gashasp
Said: “Lion! enter thou and find out whither
Our chief, the heroic captain of the host,
Our succourer, hath gone.”

Yalán-sína

Made for the palace with an anxious heart
To seek the chief. He saw it and its hall
Magnifical; its like he had not seen
Or heard of in Írán. Upon one side
Thereof there was a cupola whose top
Was viewless through its height and under it
A throne of gold with steps begemmed. The throne
Was covered with brocade of Rúm in patterns
Picked out with jewels on a ground of gold.
Upon the throne there sat a lady crowned,
Of cypress-height and with a face like Spring.
¹⁵⁷

Anon the onager appeared;

The chieftain followed after on his steed,
And it was so that till he cleared the forest
The onager still served him as a guide.
He went back to the city from the chace,
But spake not of the matter to the host.
Kharrád, son of Barzín, regarded him
And said thus: “O thou chief that speakest sooth!
What was this marvel seen and heard by none
That happened in the chace?”

The paladin

Vouchsafed no answer but in dudgeon sought
The palace, and none else dared ask: “What might
This matter mean, this vision of delight?”

How Bahrám Chúbína assumed the royal Style and how Kharrád, Son of Barzín, and the Archscribe^158b fled

The next day, when the uplands silvered over,
And when yon yellow shining Lamp appeared,
Bahrám Chúbína spread a carpeting
Made of brocade of Chín, and thou hadst said
That earth had turned to sky. Throughout the palace
He ranged gold seats and cushions of brocade
Of gold. They placed a golden ante-throne
Whereon the captain of the host sat down,
Then held a session like the king of kings,
And placed upon his head the crown of greatness.
The archscribe marked Bahrám Chúbína's conduct,
And, knowing him to be both bold and strong,
Went and retailed his knowledge, sight or hearsay,
Before Kharrád, son of Barzín, who listened,
Knew that his own toils had been vain, and said:—
“Take not this lightly, O thou noble scribe!
This king of kings of ours hath played the fool
In sending as a gift the distaff-case,
Not knowing that this battle-loving Lion
Would thus revolt. We must not talk of this,
But when 'tis midnight fare forth to the Sháh,
And say: ‘Bahrám Chúbína's heart is set
Upon the crown; the seat too under him
Is ivory.’”

They canvassed all the case,

And made a shift to flee, prepared the pretext,
And fled from Balkh by night. The chief, informed
Thereof, and knowing well their clear, shrewd minds,
Said to Yalán-sína: “Go in pursuit
Of those two dotards with a hundred horse.”
He overtook the archscribe, raged at him,
As 'twere a wolf, took from him all he had,
And brought him back made fast in heavy bonds,
Back to Bahrám Chúbína so that he
Might slay the innocent. The paladin
Said: “Doer of div's work! why didst thou quit me
Without my leave?”

“O paladin!” he answered,

“Kharrád, son of Barzín, made me afraid.
He said: ‘We may not tarry; thy delay
Will please those only that speak ill of thee,
For when the heroic captain of the host,
Bahrám Chúbína, holdeth court as Sháh

Bahrám Chúbína said:—

“Just so: one must consult o'er good and ill.”
He then restored and with advantages
From his own treasures what the scribe had lost,
Then said to him: “Go thou and ponder o'er
Thy conduct in this case and flee no more.”

How Hurmuzd received News of Bahrám Chúbína's Doings, and how Bahrám Chúbína sent a Frail of Swords to Hurmuzd

Kharrád, son of Barzín, for his part rode,
Escaping notice, till he reached the Sháh,
To whom he told his news, suppressing naught,
Of wood and meadow, course of onager,
Strait pathway and Bahrám Chúbína's sojourn;
Told of the palace and the jewelled throne,
The slave-girls and the lady with the crown:
He told whatever he had seen and heard.
The Sháh mused at the tale, laid it to heart,
And sighed as he remembered what the archmage
And fortune-teller had said: “Bahrám Chúbína
Will turn him from thy throne.”¹⁶⁰

Forthwith he summoned

The high priest, set Kharrád, son of Barzín,
Within the room and said to him: “Relate
The adventures of thy journey.”

Thus enjoined

He oped his lips and told it all. The Sháh
Said to the high priest: “What importeth this?
We must consult at large. The onager
That led him through the wood, the palace seen
Amidst the wilderness, the lady crowned
Upon the golden throne, the slaves in waiting
As on a queen—the account is like a dream
Suggested by old tales!”

The high priest thus.

Made answer to the monarch of the world:—
“Beneath that onager there was a dív
Who sought to lead Bahrám Chúbína wrong,
And make perverseness show within his heart.
The palace, be assured, was sorcerer's work,
The lady on the throne an impious witch,
Who on this wise to hearten him the more
Displayed the crown and throne of majesty.

He replied:—

“As for that crownéd lady, all the troops
Call her, O king! ‘Bahrám Chúbína's Luck,’
Which will be very great and glorious.”
The king, on hearing, greatly feared the ills
That fortune had in store. Ere long there came
One from the paladin, the cavalier,
And brought a frail of swords with points all bent.
¹⁶² He set them down before the Sháh who looked
Upon that iron gear, bade break the swords,
Replace them in that ill-conditioned frail,
And then return them to Bahrám Chúbína:
No word was spoken but the intent was clear.
Bahrám Chúbína oped the frail, beheld
The long swords snapped at point and then replaced,
And, wayward as he was, grew full of thought.
He called the Íránians round the frail and said:—
“Behold the king's gift! Underrate it not.
It meaneth that this host is little worth,
And not the head of one of us will scape.”
The troops thought much of what the Sháh had done,
And of their paladin's address. They said:—
“One day our monarch sendeth us as gifts
A distaff and a gaudy robe; anon
He giveth broken swords—a present worse
Than striking or abuse. Ne'er be such Sháh
Upon the throne! May none remember him,
And if again the offspring of Gashasp—
Bahrám Chúbína—ride on that court's dust
Then may they perish, skin and marrow both,
He and his worthless sire!”

The chieftain heard,

Saw how Hurmuzd had vexed the host and said:—
“Be vigilant and let your minds be clear

How Bahrám Chúbína made known to the Chiefs his Designs upon the Throne, and how his Sister Gurdya advised him

Bahrám Chúbína summoned then the chiefs,
And told them many secrets. There were present
Hamdán Gashasp and the archscribe, Yalán-sína,
Renowned and strong, with valorous Bahrám,
The son of Siyáwush, and that wise chief,
Kandá Gashasp. With these he held debate,
For they were Lions and men of war, and then
Harangued that fierce host, which was all astray,
Thus: “Famous chiefs whose counsel all require!
The Sháh is wroth with us without a cause,
And so hath turned away from what is right.
What will ye do? What is the remedy?
'Tis useless to shed tears upon the past.
Whoe'er hath hid his anguish from the leech
Hath showered from his lashes tears of blood,
And trifles grow in moment when we keep
Our secrets from the men of understanding.
I have myself my privy griefs and I
Will tell them to the sages of the world.
Ye all are conversant with these affairs,
And so can testify to what I say.
We left Írán by order of the Sháh
With but few troops, though eager to engage,
And none, though long his life, will see a foe
More numerous. Now if the Turk Parmúda,
Had, with king Sáwa, marched upon Írán
It would not have been worth a piece of wax,
And later they would have attempted Rúm;

The archscribe kept

His lips still shut awhile and sat amid
A crowd of thoughts, then said: “Whoe'er shall seek
His wish in fitting fashion will attain it,
For time's stretched hand is long. Know that no pains
Can shun whatever God will have to be.”
Then said the chieftain to Hamdán Gashasp:—
“O thou well versed in fortune's rise and fall!
Whatever thou shalt utter in our presence
Shall be as wind and, like wind, hurt thee not.
Advise us in this case, this test of good
And evil fortune.”

Great Hamdán Gashasp

Thus spake: “Prized by the great! why dost thou dread
Ills not yet come and question of the crown
Of kingship? Act and leave the rest to God.
Why reach out for the date if thou dost fear

Gurdya made no reply;

The counsels of the chief displeasured her.
Thereafter she addressed the archscribe thus:—
“O man maleficent like some old wolf!
So thou conceivest that the crown and throne,
Host and addition and the might of fortune
Were in the world no objects of desire
To any famous chiefs of generous bent
Though kingship easier is than servitude!
Such sentiments as thine demand our tears.
Take we the precedents of former Sháhs,
And hear the sayings of those greater ones.”
The archscribe made response: “If rede of mine
Obtain not with thee speak and do whatever
Thou art advised and follow thy heart's lead.”
Then likewise to self-willed Bahrám Chúbína
His sister spake and said: “They are not good,
Thy knowledge and thy counsel, and thy steps
Are tending toward deceit. Full many a time
Hath the Sháh's throne been void and yet no chief
Cast any look upon it. It was theirs
To guard the world by valour, not to have
An eye upon the throne. They did not aim
Thereat but girt their loins to serve. They sought
Their sovereigns' weal and rendered hearty service.
They were no strangers to the throne and crown,
But worthy of their greatness by descent.
I speak first of the case of Sháh Káús,
¹⁶⁸ Who would have searched the mysteries of God,
Have summed the stars and trod heaven's circling dome,
But fell despised and wretched at Sarí
Through his perverseness and ill bent, and yet
Gúdarz and Rustam, who was paladin,
Did not take dudgeon, and thereafter when
Káús went to Hámávarán,^168a and folk
Bound him in heavy fetters, none essayed
The throne but manifested warm regret.
So when the Íránians said to Rustam: ‘Thou
Art worthy of the throne,’^168b he cried against
The speaker: ‘Be thy mate the narrow charnel!
Shall I be on the throne of gold, the Sháh
Bound? Perish kingship rather! Perish crown!’

The assembly marvelled at her,

The chieftain bit his lips as well aware
That what she said was just and that she sought
The path of right. Yalán-sína replied:—
“O noble lady! in this company
Forbear to treat of Sháhs because Hurmuzd
Will soon pass and the paladin enjoy
The throne of majesty. Now since the Sháh
Is what he is in prowess count thy brother
Already as the monarch of Írán,
And if Hurmuzd affect¹⁷⁰ the royal crown
Why sendeth he a distaff as a gift?
The paladin is such a lion-man
That at the terror of his sword earth quaketh,
And had his sword remained undrawn Hurmuzd,
Írán and Shám had perished, and to send him
The present of a distaff and of cotton!
Fie on a king so faithless! Talk no more
About Turk-born Hurmuzd. May all that race
No longer be! To count from Kai Kubád
This stock hath had the crown and throne of gold
A thousand years. Now it is at an end,
So name them not or give Khusrau Parwíz
A thought; his mention is not worth a mite,
And those that are the princes at his court
Will be thy brother's subjects who will place
At his word their lord's feet in heavy bonds.”
“The Black Dív spreadeth out,” said Gurdya
A net upon thy path. Destroy us¹⁷¹ not,
Both soul and body. I perceive in thee
But wind and vapouring. Our sire was march-lord
At Rai and thou wouldst have us seek the throne.
Now thine incitement of Bahrám Chúbína,
And putting into tumult all our kindred,
Will give our race's travail to the wind,
And through thy words, thou base-born underling!
Yea! lead him on and fill our quiet times
With turbulence!”

She spake and then withdrew

In tears with heart grown alien from her brother,

He bade to spread the board,

And call for wine and harp and minstrelsy.
He told the minstrels: “Let your song to-day
Be of heroic deeds. I will not hear
Aught but the story of the Seven Stages;
So while we revel sing the part wherein
Asfandiyár went to the Brazen Hold,
And of the game he played in that campaign.”
^171a They drank much wine to him and cried: “May Rai
Be prosperous since such a chief as thou
Ariseth thence, and may God fashion more
Like thee.”

At night they went their several ways;

The heads of all those topers were a-daze.